 September 17, 2003
APC owns and operates the high-pressure gas pipelines that transport gas from Alaska's Cook Inlet gas fields to ENSTAR Natural Gas Company's distribution system and various commercial customers of ENSTAR. ENSTAR is a division of SEMCO ENERGY, serving 112,000 customers in south-central Alaska, including Anchorage. APC has no employees and ENSTAR is APC's only customer. Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. owns and operates natural gas pipeline gathering systems through its operating partnership and its operating subsidiaries. Its primary asset consists of approximately 1,380 miles of intrastate gathering systems located in eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania. According to a SEMCO news release, the sale is structured to have no effect on ENSTAR's customers or employees. ENSTAR will purchase all of APC's gas transmission capacity for at least 10 years and will operate APC's pipelines for a minimum of 5 years. There are no plans to change rates, the services offered, pipeline operations, customer service, gas supply, or staffing as a result of the sale. The sale is subject to various regulatory approvals, including approval by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. McDonald Investments Inc. acted as adviser to SEMCO ENERGY in the transaction. Marcus Jackson, SEMCO ENERGY Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "SEMCO ENERGY's mission is to provide excellent service to its customers and an attractive investment return to its shareholders. We have been pursuing actions, including the sale of certain Company assets, that will pay down debt in order to improve the financial position and thus the long-term value of the Company. The proceeds from the sale of APC will be used to reduce debt and is consistent with the goal of improving our capital structure." Michael Staines, President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlas, expressed his pleasure at reaching this agreement and said "Atlas is aware of the importance of APC's pipeline system to south-central Alaska and looks forward to participating in the continuing development of the pipelines necessary to serve ENSTAR's customers." SEMCO ENERGY, Inc. distributes natural gas to more than 385,000 customers combined in Michigan, as SEMCO ENERGY GAS COMPANY, and in Alaska, as ENSTAR Natural Gas Company. It owns and operates businesses involved in natural gas pipeline construction services, propane distribution, intrastate pipelines and natural gas storage in various regions of the United States. In addition, it provides information technology and outsourcing services, specializing in the mid-range computer market. Governor Frank H. Murkowski said Tuesday it is a sign of a growing economy that Atlas Pipeline Partners has agreed to purchase the pipeline arm of Enstar, because it will mean greater capital investment in natural gas exploration and development in Cook Inlet. Enstar's parent company, Michigan-based Semco Energy, has agreed to sell Alaska Pipeline Company to Atlas Pipeline Partners for $95 million. "Enstar has indicated to me that the sale will improve Semco's capital structure, which is crucial for continued gas exploration," Murkowski said. "We welcome this kind of restructuring and the potential new exploration and development it will support. Our natural gas resources are key to a healthy Southcentral economy, to the homes and businesses that rely on gas for heating, as well as industries dependent on a plentiful supply of natural gas." Murkowski also said he was
pleased that Semco has indicated it would be able to make the
transaction without impacting ratepayers, employees or customers.
Atlas Pipeline Partners operates approximately 1,380 miles of
natural gas pipelines in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania, and
will be a new player in the Alaska natural gas industry. The
sale will require approval by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
Source of News Release:
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